Fourteen-year-old Emily Odwin won the Girl’s 15 & under age group in the recently concluded Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships (CAJGC). The championships were played in Jamaica at the challenging Caymanas Golf Club, St. Catherine, Jamaica.

Although Emily led the field after an opening round of four over par 76, she struggled in the second round with two triple bogeys on her card and eventually her score of 84 placed her 2nd behind the new leader, Yae Eun Kim (78 + 79) from Dominican Republic, and only one stroke ahead of Ashley Michel from the Bahamas.

When the three girls teed off on the final day, however, Emily quickly established her dominance, playing the first 6 holes in 1 under par. Despite a double bogey on the 7th, Emily continued her hectic pace with birdies on the 8th and 10th to establish a lead which she never looked like relinquishing. Her score of 75 put her 6 strokes clear of her nearest rival, Yae Eun Kim, who completed her final round with a gross score of 84.

Barbados, unfortunately, did not field a full team of 14 players, so had to compete for individual honors in the various age groups. Although Iz Hustler and Xzavier Wiggins showed signs of brilliance on occasions, neither boy challenged in the Boys 18 & Under age category. Hustler finished 9th, while Wiggins was 11th from a field of 19 boys.

The girl’s 14-15 age group won by Barbadian Emily Odwin who had three scores in the 70’s (79,79,78) to total 236.

The 9th Republic Bank Caribbean Junior Open came to a close today on the beautiful St Andrews Golf Course in Moka, Maraval. The 112 juniors who played all had a great time and thanks must go to Republic Bank for their continued sponsorship of this championship and St Andrews Golf Club for the loan of their Golf Club & Course.

The story of the day today was the scintillating play of Zico Correia in the 11-13 boys division who today shot the only subpar round of the tournament a brilliant 70 for a total of 220 today to overhaul the overnight leader Chris Richards Jnr (75)who finished on223. In third place was Theo Jean-Noel (76)of Guadeloupe on 239.

Jonathan Jean-Noel of Guadeloupe won the boys 18 and under division this year going one better than in 2017, shooting scores of 75,78,76 (229)to win by 4 strokes from Iz Hustler of Barbados,78,77,78.(233) Xzavier Wiggins also of Barbados finished third with scores of 80,78,78 (236).

Serena Mackenzie (80,82,82) 244 the defending Champion in the girls under 18 age group defended her title with aplomb winning by 17 strokes from Sarah Ramphal (255), Karina Marabadal finished third on (267).

In the boys 14 to 15 age group overnight leader Demar James(79)of Antigua extended his lead to win by 9 shots with a total of248 from Nathan Regalan(80) of Guadeloupe. Trinidad & Tobago’s Dravid Bhim(85) finished third on 263 (it must be noted that this division played from the longer Blue tees)

The girl’s 14-15 age group Yeji Lee lost her title to Barbadian Emily Odwin who had three scores in the 70’s (79,79,78) to total 236. Yeji had 3 scores of 82 to total 246. Ashley Michel of the Bahamas finished in third place with 266.​The girls 13 and under Barbadian Eryn Blakely (91,82,82) continued to dominate shootinga total score of 255. She beatBahamian Kyndal Campbellwhom finished on a total of 289. Trinidadian Chloe Ajodha finished 3rd on 307.

See the results of the Barbados Junior International Golf Championships held at the Barbados Golf Club from April 11 – 13.The BGA congratulates the winners and all of those players who participated.Thanks go out to the BGC, to Denis Foster and his team for the execution of the Championships.

Emily Odwin, Barbados - Bronze Medal winner Junior Golf Singles, girls 15-18, in the Maccabi World Union Games.The Maccabiah is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition in the tradition and values of Maccabi, emphasizing the centrality of the State of Israel in the life of the Jewish people. The Maccabiah takes place every four (4) years in Israel - "the Jewish Olympics" as they are often called, are Maccabi World Union's largest and most famous enterprise.

Barbados’ top junior female player, Emily Odwin grabbed a third place finish when the 2017 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships concluded in Trinidad on Thursday.Competing in the girls’ 11-13 division, Odwin posted 89 in sunny conditions on Day 3 of the regional tournament and carded a 54-hole gross 259, on the final day of competition at the St.Andrews course at Moka.Brooke Rivers of the Turks & Caicos islands, who shared the title with Odwin last year in Barbados, emerged the clear champion with a gross 242 as she dominated the division from Day 1. Rivers, who completed the front nine on one-under-par, posted 77 on Thursday and was 13 strokes clear of second-placed Bahamian Sophie Anand (255) who ended with an 85 after being tied with Odwin at one stage.

Among the 16-18 girls, defending champion Valeria Pacheco of Puerto Rico was consistently too strong for her rivals and ran away with the title after holding a clear 12-stroke lead at the end of 36 holes. She posted 79 on Thursday for a gross 235 and was followed by Kei Yae-Eun of the Dominican Republic (248) and Kei Harris of Jamaica on 249.

There were no stoppages for rain on the final day but some afternoon showers chased in the final group of players around 3.30pm, to close-out a testing three days of golf on the Moka course.

Champion and hometown favourite Sachin Kumar of Trinidad, successfully defended his boys18 and under crown and also emerged the top player of the championships. He posted a three-day gross 222, while following up Wednesday’s 73 with another one-over-par 73 that gave him a four-stroke victory over second-placed Rodrigo Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who shot 75 for a gross 226. Third was Gustavo Betances of the DR with a gross 227.

Barbados junior champion Iz Hustler made up some ground with a final day 75 in the 16-18 division, the best score among his compatriots, but finished 10th in a field of 23 players with a 54-hole gross 239.

Barbados player Xzavier Wiggins slotted 6th in the 14-15 division which was won by Andres Aranguren of Puerto Rico who sealed it with a two-over-par 74 and a gross 224. Wiggins posted a gross 244 while Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands finished second on 234.

Yeji Lee (gross 238) of Trinidad won the girls’ 15 and under division while Gustavo Rangel of Puerto Rico took the boys’ 11-13 catergory with a three-day gross 229.

Barbados Captain James Johnson (left) and head of the BGA junior programme Denny Foster (right) was handing out awards during a ceremony at the BGC clubhouse.

The Barbados Golf Association recently concluded its 2016 programme for junior golfers with the staging of the 2016 Barbados Junior Championships at the Barbados Golf Club.

National junior players Iz Hustler and Emily Odwin took the top prizes in the championships and will hold the titles until December 2017.Fifteen year-old Hustler took the overall boys' title with a 36-hole gross of 154 while Odwin took the girls' equivalent with a two-day gross 168.

Hustler followed up his first day 81 with a one-over-par 73 over the final 18 holes while Odwin shot 82 and 86 and was followed by fellow national player Alyssa Inniss-Gittens with a gross 177.

It was a tournament which saw the fast improving Oaziah Layne, the early leader in the boy's 14-17 years Division, stumbled on the final day after holding a 3-stroke lead going into the last nine holes.

Hustler won by five stokes over fellow national player Xavier Wiggins , who was second with a gross 159, while Layne was third on 160.

Among the boys in the 10-13 years age-group, Qinton Heljenek emerged winner with a gross 196 while Nathan Chee-a-Tow was second (200) and Dominic Jordan , third with a gross 201.

Players in the nine and under catergory contested 9 holes and the title was shared by Sunjeet Hariramani and Jason Johnson as both shot 92. Second was Callum Cave (94) while Nicholas Murrell was third with 110.

Around 20 players contested the 2016 BGA Barbados Junior Championships and awards were presented by senior Barbados captain James Johnson, during a ceremony at the BGC club-house .

The championships followed a series of Order of Merit competitions in 2016 , which form part of the BGA's development programme for juniors, and several of the junior players have been awarded scholarships to continue their training at the Barbados Golf Club in 2017.

Emerging talent Dario Sargeant (second from left) and Barbados juniors Alyssa Inniss-Gittens and Iz Hustler were among those receiving full scholarships to play at the Barbados Golf Club. They were presented by BGC Director Roddy Carr (left) and Assistant GM, Robert McGuire (right).

National junior players Iz Hustler and Alyssa Inniss-Gittens emerged the top players after the third series of "Order Of Merit" tournaments staged by the Barbados Golf Association.

Played at the Barbados Golf Club, at Durants, the tournaments are part of the BGA's development programme for juniors and are coordinated by coach Denis Foster and spread over a 12-month period.

Hustler, who made his senior team debut at the Caribbean Championships in the Bahamas earlier this year, registered scores of 75, 76 and 73 in the last three competitions to cement himself at the top of the order while Inniss-Gittens, who also represented Barbados among Caribbean women in the Bahamas, posted 86, 85 and 86 for her win.

They along with promising 13-yearold Grantley Adams Memorial student, Dario Sargeant, and 12 year-old national junior Eryn Blakeley, will receive full scholarships at the Barbados Golf Club.

Sargeant, an emerging talent who shot 88 in his last tournament, and Blakeley, who won the women's stableford division in the RBC Classic, were voted the most improved juniors in the 2016 BGA programme The full scholarships, and several partial scholarships awarded to the juniors, will allow them to practise year-round at the BGC as they seek to improve their games.

"Our juniors are the future of golf and we are happy and willing to play our part in helping them to improve their games and go on to bigger things. For 2017 we are again providing full scholarships and partial scholarships to young players," said Robert McGuire, Assistant General Manager of the BGC.

Among other age-group winners in the final competition for the year were Christian Mason (boys 16-17); Leiana Bynoe (girls 16-17); Emily Odwin (girls 10-13); Nicholas Murrell (boys 8-9); Laea Blakeley (girls 8-9); Jade Blakeley (girls 10-12) and Dominic Toppin (boys 10-12). Quinton Heljenek , 10 years old, was voted the most enthusiastic player.​The next tournament on the BGA's calendar for juniors will be the Barbados Junior Championships which will be contested at the BGC from January 3-5 in 2017.

Trinidadian Sachin Kumar and Puerto Rico’s Valeria Pacheo emerged champions of the 16-17 age group when the 2016 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships concluded at the Barbados Golf Club on Thursday.

On a rain affected final day , the talented 17 year-old Trinidadian posted 74, his highest score of the tournament , but that was good enough to beat his nearest rival by 17 strokes. He completed the 54 holes of competition with a one-under-par gross 215. “It was rainy and play was slow most of the day …my putting was a little off but Im happy with my score and happy to win the tournament,” said Kumar.

Alejandro Toro of Puerto Rico squeezed into the silver medal position, also posting a 74 over the final 18 holes, as he finished with a gross 232 and shared the slot with top Dominican Republic players Lucas Hernandez (232) and Enrique Valverde (232), who both shot 77.

Sixteen year-old Pacheo , who like Kumar is based at the Club Med Academy in Florida, also slammed her female rivals as she finished with a four-over-par 76 and a 36-hole gross 225. She shrugged off a first-day challenge from Jamaican Tiana Cruz, when they both shot 75 , and finished 10 strokes clear on Thursday.

Not surprisingly, the girls’ 13 and under division turned out to be the most competitive on the final day as Barbadian Emily Odwin, Brooke Rivers of Turks & Caicos and Bahamian Sophie Anand were all locked on 169 after the first two days.They were all positioned to make a run for the title but in the end , Odwin and Rivers tied for the gold medal as both shot 85 over the last 18 holes in a contest that swung back and forth.

Odwin , who had rebounded as a contender with a 79 on Day 2, at one stage was trailing Rivers by a stroke but refused to go away as the title was decided over the last three holes and both tied with scores of 254. Anand was third on 258.

“I’m kind of happy with my performance … the rain did not really affect my game as it allowed me to attack the greens . They were wet and that allowed the ball to stop once you hit the greens. It was a good contest with Brooke and Sophie,” said 12 year-old Odwin.

The boys’ 15 and under division was controlled by Puerto Rican Melvin Morales over the three days and he took the gold medal while posting a final day 74 and a gross 221. He was chased by Ho Kin-Kang of the Dominican Republic (232) and Jamaican Sebert Walker (233) , while Barbadian Iz Hustler was fourth with 236.

Jamaican Hannah Foster, who shot 78 on Thursday, also led from start to finish in the girls’ 15 and under division and predictably won the title with 235, five strokes clear of Haylie Turnquest of the Bahamas (gross 240).

The Cayman Islands pair of Aaron Jarvis and Justin Hastings dominated the boys’ 13 and under catergory where Hastings surprisingly had to settle for the silver medal after impressive scores of 71 and 75 on the first two days. He stumbled on Day3, posting 83, as his compatriot shot 74 and ran away with the title with a gross 224.

More than 80 players from nine territories - including Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands , Jamaica, Bahamas, USVI, Turks & Caicos, and hosts Barbados - contested the 29th edition of the Caribbean Junior Championships which were staged under the auspices of the Caribbean Golf Association.

​Puerto Rico took the overall Hank James Team Trophy for the seventh time, as they finished the championships on 140 points, while Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were joint second on 119 points.

It was a rainy day which made it more challenging on the final day of the Caribbean Junior Championships at the Barbados Golf Club. Here 16-17 champion Trinidad Sachin Kumar (left), Enrique Valverde (Dominican Republic) and Mitzel Chevres (Puerto Rico) pull out the umbrellas on Hole No.14.

Trinidadian champion Sachin Kumar is slamming the field at the 2016 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships, now on at the Barbados Golf Club.

On the second day of the region’s premier tournament for young players, the talented 17 year-old Trinidadian followed up his first round 70 with a one-under-par 71 on Wednesday to dominate the 16-17 years division.

He leads the division with a 36-hole score of 141 , fourteen shots ahead of Lucas Hernandez of the Dominican Republic ( 155) who shot 78 on Wednesday . Kumar, also the reigning Trinidad Open senior champion, produced some impressive shot-making while sinking five birdies in marching towards the title.

“It was very challenging with the wind … you had to control the ball and fly it low. I am hoping to keep it steady tomorrow and win the tournament,” said Kumar, who is based at the Club Med Sports Academy in Florida.

In the highly competitive boys’ 14-15 catergory, Melvin Morales of Puerto Rico sent ripples through the field Wednesday, with an impressive 2-under-par 70 that was also the best score of the day. His two-day gross of 147 moved him four strokes ahead of second placed Jamaican Sebert Walker , who shot 75 yesterday, after a first day 76.

The Jamaican was followed by Ho Jin Kang of the Dominican Republic , who posted 76 for a two-day score of 155, and Barbadian Iz Hustler (159) who slipped after registering a second day 82 . Another Barbadian, Xzavier Wiggins showed tremendous improvement on Day 2 as he shot a three-over-par 75, which was 11 strokes better than his first round score.

Justin Hastings of the Cayman Islands and compatriot Aaron Jarvis continued their domination of the 13 and under division , maintaining first and second place. Hastings followed up his first-day 71 with a second round three-over-par 75 while Jarvis shot 76 to add to his first round 74.

Among the girls, 12 year-old Barbadian Emily Odwin showed tremendous improvement and produced a major leap in the girls’ 13 and under division as she shot 79 on Wednesday, 11 strokes better than her first round 90.

That lifted her to first place after 36 holes and well-placed to make a run for the title on the final day on Thursday. Tied in second position were Sophie Anand of the Bahamas (169) and Brooke Rivers of Turks&Caicos (169).

“Everything came together today …I was driving better and making more putts. I am hoping to play well and so something special tomorrow,” said Odwin.

Jamaican Hannah Foster maintained her lead in the 15 and under division, posting 79, while 16 year-old Puerto Rican Valeria Pacheo also tightened her grip on the 16-17 catergory with with two-over-par 72 Wednesday. Pacheo was five shots ahead of another Jamaican, Tiana Cruz who posted 79.The third and final round of the Caribbean Junior Championships will be staged on Thursday at the Barbados Golf Club where players will be seeking to improve their individual scores, which will also count towards overall team scores.

​Puerto Rico are the defending team champions , in the 29th edition of the annual tournament staged under the auspices of the Caribbean Golf Association, and teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands , Jamaica, Bahamas, USVI, Turks & Caicos are contesting the Championships.